Frankie didn’t buy “nothing” as the truth. There was something Harper wasn’t telling her, she just wasn’t ready to talk about it, obviously. Her sister had changed the subject as quickly as she could. “Yes, I want to swim. Shrimp and salad is fine.”
“Great.” Harper pushed off from the wall and resumed her laps.
Frankie stood there a moment, wondering what was up. Harper was afraid of something, and it had to do with attention being focused on her. Why? Frankie had no idea. The only thing she could figure out was that Harper didn’t want the world to know she was adopted, but what was the big deal about that?
Frankie sank down in the water, going all the way under. When she emerged, she wiped her face, then dove forward and swam. It felt good to move and the water was refreshing. If she lived here, she’d be in this pool every day.
Her little unit in her no-frills apartment complex offered nothing in the way of amenities except for a small patch of grass with a single, rusty barbeque grill, and a swing set with three swings, one of which had been broken since she’d moved in. Mostly that patch of grass was used for walking dogs, so the kids avoided it due to the landmines left behind.
If she could have afforded a nicer place, she’d have moved out years ago. One of the teachers had been looking for a roommate and Frankie had briefly considered that, but ultimately decided against it. The woman’s house hadn’t been much bigger than Frankie’s apartment. If she was going to share a place, it needed to be better than what she already had.
The company would have been nice, though. Sometimes being alone was great. Mostly, it wasn’t.
She and Harper passed each other going in opposite directions. The pool was huge. Big enough for several people to swim laps at once.
She swam the length of the pool six times. When she finished, Harper was already out and laying on a lounge chair. Archie was under it, enjoying the shade. Harper looked like a postcard advertising the good life in Florida. Frankie decided she should at least give the oat milk a try.
She floated on her back for a while, staying as still as she could so the water was flat and smooth all around her. Her ears were under, and she could hear the occasional aquatic blip and slosh. It was calming and made her a little sleepy.
But she hadn’t put on sunscreen, so she finally put her feet down and got out. She spread her towel on the chaise next to Harper, but just sat on it. “You know, if there’s anything you ever want to talk about, I’m here for you. Anything. I don’t care if it’s good or bad, pretty or ugly. I’m your sister and I love you and I would never judge you.”
Harper pushed her sunglasses to the top of her head. “Thanks, Frankie.”
“You’re welcome. I really mean all of that, too. Whatever happens with our birth mother doesn’t matter. I don’t want it to change us. We’re in each other’s lives again and that’s the most important thing to me.”
Harper sat up a little. “It’s really important to me, too. I appreciate the offer. The same goes for you with me. If you ever want to talk about anything, I’m ready. I don’t care what time it is. You can wake me up if you need to. I’m really good at listening, you know.”
Frankie nodded. “I know you are.” She hesitated. Things were so good between them. She didn’t want to do anything to upset that apple cart. “It’s just that…it seems like there’s something going on with you. Something you don’t want to talk about.”
Harper shifted uncomfortably and looked out at the water. “Am I that obvious?”
Her suspicions confirmed, Frankie exhaled. “No, not at all, but I spend a lot of time with kids. It’s honed my crap-o-meter. Not saying you’re full of crap. I’ve just gotten really good at sensing when someone’s holding back.”
Harper smiled briefly, nodding. “I bet. I have been keeping something in. I’ve been wanting to tell you. I wasn’t sure how you’d react. I’m the big sister, you know? I’m supposed to set an example and…”
She shook her head and played with the waistband of her bikini bottoms. “I don’t want you to think less of me.”
Frankie pulled back. “Less of you? Never. I can’t think of anything—well, you’re not secretly a serial killer, are you?”
Harper snorted. “No. It’s nothing like that.”
“Then what is it?”
Harper let out a sigh that seemed to come from her soul. She kept her gaze on the river. A boat motored past slowly, keeping the wake down. “It’s just that…”
After a few seconds, Frankie said, “It’s just what?”
Harper sat up and pulled her knees to her chest before looking at Frankie. “The thing is, my whole life is a lie.”
ChapterThirty-Eight
Confession was both wonderful and terrible.
Harper felt lighter for having spoken the words. But she was also full of dread. Nerves made her feel cold and clammy, despite the sun’s rays beaming down on them. Her stomach twisted. She stared at Frankie, trying to read her face.
For a moment, there was nothing. Then Frankie’s brows pulled together, and her eyes narrowed. “What are you talking about?”
Harper inhaled a jittery breath. “I’m not a personal assistant. I’m…more than that. I bill myself as a professional confidante, but I’m more than that, too. I’ve become a kind of life coach, therapist, grief counselor, career consultant, and general guru of all things to my clients.”
